Chapter 4 - Towards Shichun in Secret
(The chapter title is 暗室春潮 - not sure if this is the right translation, someone help me?)

Xiang Shaolong lay in the underbrush observing the enemy's barracks. In just two days, he had covered what would have taken an ordinary person ten days, reaching a Zhao encampment approximately ten miles from Zhongmu. He was originally confident of sneaking past the enemy's defensive perimeter, but seeing the ground situation, this unfulfilled dream burst like foam bubbles in sunshine. Most aggravating was the fact that Li Mu had cut down all the trees in the area that might have offered him cover. He had also dug long trenches in the plains where Xiang Shaolong was and posted guards on all passageways. Even if he could somehow cross the trenches, he still had to surmount three layers of fences before he could reach the barracks. And then he had to sneak past ten miles of barracks and finally though a stretch of plains outside Zhongmu that was completely devoid of cover.

Looking at Li Mu's arrangements, he must be preventing anyone from approaching Zhongmu. Xiang Shaolong was like a delirious half-starved kitten seeing a fish but being unable to consume it. The agony was beyond description. His only gratification was that while Li Mu had put a water-tight seal around Zhongmu, he was still unable to breach Zhongmu's sturdy walls. He was most familiar with Zhongmu's capabilities. Defending Zhongmu for even a year would not be a difficult thing.

At the moment, he had only two choices. The first was to follow his original plan to get to Daliang and then to the Zhao border before reuniting with Huan Qi at Tunliu. The other option was to go round Zhongmu, sneak past the Zhao soldier's frontier defence and then back to Qin. The latter option was of course much more dangerous. With Li Mu's meticulous planning, he is sure to have outposts preventing Qin soldiers from rendering assistance from the East. If he did not have his skis, this option was akin to walking into a trap. But at this point, it was not without a chance of success. Just as this desire was burning in his heart, the sound of horses and dogs came from the Southwest. Xiang Shaolong's heart sank straight down. He finally let go of this enticing thought, got up and headed towards Daliang.

He reached the outskirts of the Wei capitol Daliang at dusk the next day. Having returned to the scene of his previous exploits, thought about the late Prince Xinling Wei Wuji and could not help his conflicting emotions. At this point he had already exhausted his dried rations and was both hungry and tired. Yet Daliang's defences had obviously been strengthened. All the high points were staffed with sentries. Most despairing for him were the few large rivers and man-made ditches obstructing the road towards Daliang.

Observing the area, he realised that he had to cross the rivers to reach Daliang before crossing the ditches on the other side of Daliang in order to get to the Zhao border. It would also be best for him to stock up on foodstuff on the way as the bitter cold made it impossible to gather wild fruits to allay his hunger as he had been doing. At present, his greatest advantage was that the Wei people were still unaware that he had arrived at the vicinity of Daliang. To traverse Daliang and then rush to the Zhao border was not an impossibility.

God bless us all........... Learned Lady Jean and Yeongwee are back in action..... now Justine13 emerges from..... where have you been, man?.... of course we miss you..... you know what... no translation for 1.5 mos before Yeongwee return.... so quiet.... only few birds come checking... scarry....

God bless us all........... Learned Lady Jean and Yeongwee are back in action..... now Justine13 emerges from..... where have you been, man?.... of course we miss you..... you know what... no translation for 1.5 mos before Yeongwee return.... so quiet.... only few birds come checking... scarry....

Wow. Just returned from long trip and somany changes. Yeongwee, thanks for keeping this going. Lady Jean, we still miss you. Cheers.

Let me read a bit to catch and so i know what is going on before translating ok?

Been on the road and running an investment fund so my time is really limited now.

Thanks for all the wishes!

Originally Posted by Jaran.Saga

God bless us all........... Learned Lady Jean and Yeongwee are back in action..... now Justine13 emerges from..... where have you been, man?.... of course we miss you..... you know what... no translation for 1.5 mos before Yeongwee return.... so quiet.... only few birds come checking... scarry....